An Exchange

Chapter Forty-Four - Mr. Fisher

Ryan

Mom suggested we take our boat to the lake and go fishing. So we picked Penny up at nine, and drove out. She seemed distracted when she first climbed in beside me, so I figured she was nervous about spending the day with Dad. He was quiet for the first while as well, so Mom and I ended up doing all the talking on the car ride out.

The first thing either of them said was as we climbed into the boat. Dad offered her his hand as she stepped in. "So, Penny. Have you ever been fishing before?"

She drew a sharp breath, staring at his hand, but quickly answered, "No, never."

"Well, don't expect to do much here. Usually we just sit in the boat and watch the world go by."

"I thought that was the point of fishing anyway."

Dad's eyebrows flew up, then he laughed. "Yes, I guess it kind of is."

We rode out into the lake, then set up around the boat. I sat next to Penny and showed her how to use her rod. She was a bit dangerous at first―she hit me with it, then Dad―until she finally got it right and we sat to relax.

Mom was very chatty with her. The two of them joked around like old friends. Penny was her normal charming self within the hour, and even relaxed into snuggling up against me in front of my parents.

Time passed by smoothly. When Mom brought out the ice chest and handed us all a bottle of water each, she asked Penny, "What do you plan on doing when you get back to Australia?"

Penny shrugged and replied calmly, "To be honest, I hadn't planned that far ahead. I spent my last two years of school planning and saving my money to come here. I never thought about what I would do when it's over."

"You don't want to go to college?"

"I can't right away. The year doesn't start until February."

"Mom," I said. "I've asked Penny to think about UCLA."

She looked at Penny but responded to me. "You did?"

"He did," Penny answered. "I'm thinking about it, but I will have to save up first then work out a visa, and that's if I can even get in."

"I'm sure we could help you out with all of that," Dad said, leaning back on his chair. "Money is no issue for us as you know, and money can solve all those things."

"I wouldn't want to ask you to do that. I'd prefer to work and save up on my own."

Dad looked her over as she tried to keep her eyes fixed ahead. "Good for you, Penny."

She shrugged. "It's always more rewarding that way. Like coming here; I don't want to waste one second because I worked and saved for it myself."

Dad stared at her, his eyes narrow. She shifted uncomfortably. A slight grin curled his mouth. "Why is a smart girl like you dating my son?"

"Hey!" I sprayed water on him.

"Well, you're a dead beat, Ryan. You think hard work means knocking it up a notch at the gym."

"Shut up." I moaned as they all laughed.

Penny leaned closer and kissed my cheek. I smiled down at her, stroking her hair. Then I saw Dad watching her with an odd expression that I'd never seen before, and couldn't quite understand what it meant.

After that, Dad moved and sat next to her and monopolized her attention. I was pleased at first to see him wanting to be so friendly with her, until I noticed the look in Mom's eyes. It was that same strange look that I didn't understand, with a hint of jealousy. Confused and concerned, I pulled Penny onto my lap to try and break Dad's attention from her. It worked only a little, as he kept talking to her but from a more respectable distance, and only stopped when I'd turn her focus to me.